I remember mentioning in a Straits Times interview some time back that I’d take a bunch of cheaper-priced lipsticks over a single luxury lipstick – these days, I’ve changed my tune. I’ll take a bunch of any-priced lipsticks hurhurhur. Just cos I’m a lippie junkie. Tsk. I’m a hopeless caseeeeee. Anyhoos, when I first saw this in Aritaum in Seoul, I was slightly put off by its price tag of KRW27,000 (which is about SGD$31-32). However, once I tested it on the back of my hand, I was sold. I was on the bandwagon. Like pushing errbardy off as though it was an episode of Running Man so that I could be safely on the bandwagon hurhurhur.

IOPE Dual Lip Blender – KRW27,000

The 5 colours in this range come in 4 family colours –

RED: #1 Red Blending , #2 Burgundy Blending

PINK: #3 Pink Blending

ORANGE: #4 Orange Blending

RED & BEIGE: #5 Rose Gold Blending

The design of this is such that the ombre lip effect is easy to achieve – simply apply with the darker shade (which is the lipstick portion aka the Waterfit Lipstick, an existing product) on the inner portion of your lips. The light portion (which is the lip balm, aka the Waterfit Lip Balm, yet another existing product) will go on the outer portion of the lips.

I say…

The Packaging: It comes with a click-on cap over a square tube (instead of your usual cylindrical ones that roll off all surfaces into the sunset), and hence, stays put on surfaces. What I like is that it looks posh and classy with its glossy finish, but it’s actually a super lightweight plastic casing. I fully understand that sometimes, a weighty /heavy product adds to its level of luxury, but seriously, ain’t nobody got time fo dat – especially not this lipstick lover who carries around several lippies in her handbag, along with the compact version of her face-painting tools.

The Scent: Very, very faint and almost indiscernible scent.

The Texture: I love that this is a half and a half – working on a similar theory of Laneige’s Two-Tone Lip Bar, this one differs because it has a lipstick half and a lip balm half. It’s a frigging godsend for everybardy, especially those with dry or chapped lips, because it gives you both colour and moisture. What’s more, I love that its cross-section is that of a concave and convex – it allows for very easy and convenient application (vs Laneige which has a diagonal cross section and can bit a tad bit more cumbersome when trying to get that ombre lip). Just swipe this across your lip, flip it upside down (so that the lipstick portion is on the inner part of your lips), and you’re done!

The Verdict: Definitely on my list of lipsticks I must bring around – it gives you the best of both worlds with good colour pigmentation as well as a non-greasy, non-sticky and not-too-thick layer of lip balm/moisture. It even gives you an option of ombre or full-colour lips, and the colour intensity can be built up (using only the lipstick portion) into a stronger lip colour for night outings. I wish I’d bought more though, especially since I’ve even seen an Australian online shop selling it for AU$39.05 (gasp – I can top up a few more dollars to buy myself a YSL lippie). Sigh. So not gonna let them earn the extra buckeroos. Looks like I’ll have to head back to Seoul again then hurhurhur.